The Shadow
A potential merger of the Covington and Alleghany County school divisions took two big steps forward this week when it was approved by leaders in both jurisdictions.
Wednesday, the merger plan was approved by the Alleghany County School Board 4-1 and the board of supervisors, 6-1. That was followed by 3-2 votes Thursday by both Covington City Council and the school board.
The proposal will now be submitted to the Virginia Department of Education for review. It will then go before the Virginia Board of Education for consideration.
The Virginia General Assembly will also have a say in the plan as local leaders will ask for financial support to equalize teacher salaries and benefits.
According to the plan, the two school administrations will combine July 1, 2022, and students would begin attending the combined system in the 2023-2024 school year.
The plan calls for Alleghany High School to serve as a combined high school, while Covington High School will become a middle school.
The joint school board will contain seven members, with Alleghany County having four of the seats. Funding will be based on a per-capita formula, with Alleghany County being responsible for a majority of the budget.
School board members will initially be appointed, but the plan calls for the members to eventually be elected by voters on an at-large basis.
The plan was developed by a Joint School Services Committee that has representation from each locality.
Alleghany County Approves Wednesday
In a meeting held Wednesday that was attended mostly by school officials and the news media, the merger plan was approved by the school board and the board of supervisors.
Donnie Kern (Clifton Forge East District) cast the dissenting vote on the school board. Cletus Nicely (Sharon District) voted no on the board of supervisors.
“There seems to be too many loose ends on this,” said Nicely, while re-emphasizing his belief that the merger plan needed to go before voters in each jurisdiction in a referendum.
Two months ago, Nicely called for a halt to the merger discussions.
Nicely said public interaction in the merger discussions have been hampered by the COVID-19 pandemic, and he predicted that the plan may eventually end up costing taxpayers in the county and city more money.
“I?think that somewhere down the road, we are going to pay for that,” he said.
Prior to the votes by the school board and supervisors, a public hearing was held with only two speakers participating in the hearing, Todd Persinger and Chuck Hurley, both of Clifton Forge. Both men had concerns about the plan.
Persinger, a former county school board member, said the plan closely mirrors a proposal that was presented by Alleghany County School Superintendent Gene Kotulka after he arrived in the county five years ago.
Persinger voiced several concerns about the merger proposal, including its projected cost savings. He said governmental consolidation should occur in the Highlands.
“I?think we need to have governmental consolidation before we have school consolidation,” Persinger said.
Persinger went on to say that he feels Alleghany County will continue to struggle financially as its tax base and population continue to decline. He said the ultimate solution may be for Alleghany County to become part of Botetourt County.
Hurley joined Persinger in questioning the financial savings that will come from merging the schools.
Written comments from Teresa and Rusty Hammond, Ray Lipes and Lisa Schoppmeyer were read as part of the public hearing. All four said they support the merger.
Alleghany County School Board Chairman Jacob Wright called Wednesday’s meeting “one of the most historic meetings in the history of Alleghany County.”
Wright, who is also chairman of the Joint School Services Committee that developed the plan over the course of one year, called it “fair and equitable.”
“This committee has done its homework and based its decisions on facts and not innuendo,” Wright said.
School board member Gerald Franson said that votes of support by the local leaders mean nothing if the state does not provide financial support for the merger.
“If the state does not provide the funds they promised us, this will be a no-go,” Franson said.
The Joint Service Committee’s work was funded by $400,000 from the General Assembly.
Covington Approves Thursday
It was a different scene Thursday night at Covington High School’s Curfman Hall, which was the site of a public hearing prior to the merger votes by city council and the school board.
In a very emotional and sometimes contentious hearing that lasted almost three hours, nearly 25 residents and educators voiced their opinions on the merger plan. Government leaders also read several emails and letters in regard to the merger.
Attendance in Curfman Hall was limited due to COVID-19 restrictions. A spillover crowd watched the proceedings on a simulcast in the school cafeteria.
Opponents of the merger far outnumbered its supporters at the public hearing.
“I will consent that there is some good information in this $200,000 document,” Jeter-Watson Intermediate School Principal Rob Bennett said in reference to the merger plan.
Bennett, a former Covington mayor, also alleged that “dirty politics” have been part of the county school system in recent years, especially in regard to the 2013 closures of Boiling Spring and Falling Spring elementary schools.
Harry Casey said he supports merging the schools. Casey was part of a committee that developed a governmental consolidation proposal that failed to win approval from voters in 2011.
Casey said students will be offered more curriculum opportunities in a combined system.
“We can offer additional AP (advanced placement) courses. This will allow students to have a jump start for college,” Casey said.
Casey also said combining the schools would be a win for economic development.
“The education system and economic development run hand-in-hand. The quality of your local school system is a major factor that’s considered anytime a business is considering relocation,” Casey said.
Steve Dressler, a Covington High School teacher who has been an outspoken critic of the merger talks, asserted “there has been no input on the joint committee from present administrators, teachers or parents, plus the community has not been allowed to vote after hearing all of the information.”
Dressler said educators conducted their own polling, and it showed 93 percent disapproval over the merger plan.
Mandy Arritt said she favors merging the school divisions.
Arritt stated, “I have two children in the Covington City School System and I am here tonight in favor of consolidation.
“Our children’s education should be the number one priority in this whole merger discussion — not emotions, not Backyard Brawl football games or which stage you walk across when you graduate,” she added.
Covington businessman Tommy Garten and his wife, Mary Beth, also voiced their support for the merger.
Opposition was expressed by two CHS students, Emma Scott and Braden Toombs.
“I’d like to say that lots of us who attend Covington like our class size. We get to interact with our teachers, build relationships with them and get help when we need it,” Scott said.
Toombs said a benefit of a small school allows teachers to be friends with other staff, such as custodians.
The school board was the first body to vote Thursday, with Jonathan Arritt, Tonya Jones and Tamala Preston voting yes and Erika Hunter and Bert Baker voting no.
Chairwoman Preston and Vice Chairman Baker both gave remarks before making their respective votes, with Baker voting against, while Preston was in favor.
Following those remarks, Jonathan Arritt voted in favor.
On city council, the three yes votes were cast by Mayor Tom Sibold, Vice Mayor David Crosier and Councilman Raymond Hunter. Councilman Allan Tucker and Eddie Joe Enstminger cast dissenting votes.
Tucker, a member of the Joint School Services Committee, cited a lack of a “Plan B” among other concerns.
He said that in “good conscience,” he could not support the merger.
In casting his no vote, Entsminger said, “I believe consolidation is necessary to help this area continue to thrive, however, I do not believe the plan that has been laid before us is the best plan and at this time, I cannot support that plan.”
Crosier followed by voting yes, saying: “I am for it. I’m just not really for this plan, so there needs to be a lot of work. I hope the committee take these questions to heart and get some of these answers.”
Following the votes by the school board and city council, the audience expressed its dissatisfaction by shouting at the city leaders.
Several persons in the audience carried signs conveying their opposition to the merger. An impromptu prayer gathering was even held prior to the meeting.
Talks of merging Covington and Alleghany County school systems can be traced to first discussions that were held in February 1968.
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Main Photo – Covington City School Board members Bert Baker, left, and Tonya Jones look over documents during a joint meeting with Covington City Council Thursday night at Covington High School’s Curfman Hall. During the meeting, both the school board and council by 3-2 votes approved a proposal to merge Covington City and Alleghany County schools. On Wednesday evening, the Alleghany County Board of Supervisors and Alleghany County School Board approved the proposed merger. (Gavin Dressler Photo)
Article Only Photo – Covington resident Kathy Gibson expresses her opinion on the proposed merger of Covington City and Alleghany County schools during a public hearing Thursday evening at Curfman Hall. (Gavin Dressler Photo)
